Selling a bike on Craigslist, a BUYER's perspective....

if you are a cheapskate like me, craigslist can be a treasure trove of bike goodies. but sometimes, it can be downright maddening as well. here are some simple pdxtex certified hints for sellers to make our collective cheapskate perusing more enjoyable and to get their stuff sold faster....

1) don't take a picture of the bike sideways, with your cellphone, in your kitchen, in the dark. likewise, take the damn bike off the hook if its hanging from the rafters in your garage, ie UPSIDE down.

2) don't say the bike is "tuned" and expect that is a selling point. i don't know your mechanical aptitude, if you took a good picture in the first place, id probably have a good sense of whether or not your bike was a piece of crap. or awesome...

4) do some research on comparable prices. im glad your bike is what you call NOS but not all of us see bike from the 1990s that way. it not an antique, and its not as rare as you might think it is. so adjust your price accordingly.

5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.

6) don't ask me to meet "downtown". that means its stolen.

7) if you are selling the bike on behalf of somebody else, maybe you should have them write the add, but im glad it has ultigre breaks!!

frame size! good one. yes, frame size is often omitted. the "downtown" thing is just a peeve of mine. ive never actually met to look at a bike in the central city. but any add with no picture, sketchy details and a newer bike is always some tweaker with a stolen bike.

frame size! good one. yes, frame size is often omitted. the "downtown" thing is just a peeve of mine. ive never actually met to look at a bike in the central city. but any add with no picture, sketchy details and a newer bike is always some tweaker with a stolen bike.

Sketchy details= Most people know nothing about bike including frame Size.

Newer bike= Bought on a whim

No picture= zero internet skills.

I've found some really nice bikes advertised with no pic, and horrilbe description. Not everyone is a bike nut.

Amy, I'll always remember you...... I miss you so much, for you filled my days with so much joy.

4) do some research on comparable prices. im glad your bike is what you call NOS but not all of us see bike from the 1990s that way. it not an antique, and its not as rare as you might think it is. so adjust your price accordingly.

5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.

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Amen.

Also... Calling you old POS rustbucket "Vintage" does not mean you will get near the cost of a new bike for it..

I don't have anyone come by my house. I don't want anyone knowing where I live. I also meet in public when buying. Craigslist is full of scammers & thieves.
There was a link a couple of days ago to a southern California stolen bike ring that used Craigslist to scan ads for high-end bikes for sale, then no-show at the sellers house. The thieves then cased the house and broke in, stealing the bikes.

My thought is that if someone won't meet in public, then that person is up to no good.

iab for the win!! yeah, basically....my favorite are also ads where the seller has modified their bike in some kooky fashion to suit their riding style. apparently lots of people ride like herman munster.....i always see road bikes with super tiny frames and realllly long seat posts and stems.

5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.

LOL, this sums it up for me.....I always think, :"gee, someone didnt want it @ your ridiculous price before, so why would you keep listing it @ same price?".

The "your bike is not an antique" response is classic too, not everything's worth a gazillion dollars, like you say, do research. I LOL whenever I see someone overpricing a supposed "antique", because most likely it's NOT.......

Sketchy details= Most people know nothing about bike including frame Size.

Maybe so, BUT, if you can post an ad on CL selling your bike, certainly you can take the same time to do a bit of research, or pick up a phone and call an LBS to try to get more info? Your answer is an excuse IMO. People arent stupid, even if they try to come off that way, they just dont care. So if they don't care, why should anyone else?

Newer bike= Bought on a whim

Has to be one of the dumbest things someone can do. Do your due dilligence BEFORE pluckiing down big $$ for a bike you probably wont be riding in 2-3 yrs anyways. Go to target and buy a bike there.

There was a link a couple of days ago to a southern California stolen bike ring that used Craigslist to scan ads for high-end bikes for sale, then no-show at the sellers house. The thieves then cased the house and broke in, stealing the bikes.
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